'Happy and healthy' Chester FC midfielder George Green wants to make it a year to remember

George Green in action for Chester FC against Southport (Image: Terry Marland)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from CheshireLive - Chester FC

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

It has been a long time coming but George Green is keen to make up for lost time at Chester FC.

A summer signing from Nuneaton Borough, the midfielder, who turns 23 today, has been forced to watch from the stands as a lower back injury hampered his plans of making a mark at his new club.

The former Everton and England Youth startlet has had to endure plenty of tough times in his career already, with his battles with drugs, alcohol and depression well documented.

He was at one of his lowest ebbs back in 2017 but Chester bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley put their faith in him when signing him during the summer, and it now looks at long last like that faith was well placed.

Green made a cameo as a substitute in the 3-0 Boxing Day loss at Southport before being handed a start and playing 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat at Hereford FC on Saturday, a game where he was the Blues' stand out performer.

And he made his long awaited home debut on New Year's Day, partnering Gary Roberts in the centre of midfield as Chester ground out a well deserved point with a 0-0 draw against Southport. Again, Green showed his undoubted class and showed signs that if he finds his rhythm and can be incorporated into a fully fit Chester side he could be an enormous asset.

"That's my dream to be playing 90 minutes every week, that's what I put in the hard work on and off the pitch for," said Green after the game.

"The gaffers have probably thrown me in quicker than I expected but I don't think they regret it, I certainly don't. It's been positive.

"It's been hard but I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I work hard away from the pitch. I've got a great diet plan set in place, I've got a great gym program set in place and as long as I keep on doing that you'll all see it out on the Swansway of a weekend.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in8Cancel

Play now

Read More

Related Articles

"It's minutes in the legs and although I still feel it in my back I can play through it and it's fine as long as I managed it right. Everyone is right, the gaffers are happy and hopefully it can be an injury free and happy year for me. I'm happier and healthier than I've ever been."

Green is now a vision of happiness and it's hard to imagine he depths of despair he had previously found himself in when you speak to him.

Bubbly, eloquent and generous with his time, Green looks like a man with the fire in his belly once more.

He received a warm welcome from the Blues fans and had even more reasons to be cheerful with his young daughter Daisy watching her Daddy play the beautiful game for the first time. A proud moment for Green.

He said: "I got a great reception from the fans. They've been patient, I've been patient, everybody's been patient. I just want to reward them on the pitch with good performances and three points.

Read More

Related Articles

George Green in action for Chester against Southport (Image: Terry Marland)

"It was the first time that my daughter had come to watch me and that was a very proud moment for me, and that was in the back of my mind. Just seeing the reception and that she could see Daddy playing, I'm really thankful for that, I don't take that for granted."

Chester slipped a place to sixth in the National League North after the draw with Southport but they remain in the play-off picture.

And with key men still to come back Green is backing a promotion push.

"It's going to be tough with the injuries we've got but we can't ponder on that too much, we have a squad of 16 on a Saturday and a Tuesday and we have to make sure we keep grinding out results and keep in that top six," he said.

"Southport have done us over three times and that's not nice to take. At least we turned up and gave them a fight. We wanted the three points and we deserved the three points but a point ain't bad and I don't think we'll argue with that given the current squad situation."